This time on “The Chef, You, and I,” Kathryn, and her friend Marty prepare some comfort food recipes. Watch as they prepare Ritz Cracker Casserole, Roasted Cauliflower, fruit salad, and Marty’s favorite brown butter chocolate chip cookies.

Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole

Permission to use recipe by Marty Schultes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 1 Rotisserie Chicken
  • 2 cans 10 oz Cream Chicken Soup or One 20 Oz Can
  • 16 oz Sour Cream
  • 1/2 cup Silvered Almonds
  • 8 oz Sliced water chestnuts
  • 1 Stick of unsalted Butter
  • 2 sleeves Ritz Crackers Crushed

Instructions

  • Pre Heat oven to 375
  • Directions
  • Grease bottom of Casserole Dish
  • Cut up Rotisserie Chicken or Boil Chicken Breast with Celery and Onion until chicken is tender
  • Then Cut it up. In a bowl mix soup with sour cream add chopped water chestnuts
  • then add soup sour cream, cut up water chestnut’s and add Chicken and blend it all together. Add Mixture to the greased casserole dish. Crush Cracker and add to top of mixture then add melted butter to the top of the dish put in oven for about 35 to 40 minutes it will start bubbling then take it out and serve with Cauliflower.

Roasted Cauliflower

Marty Schultes Permission to use and she taught us how to make it on the show

Ingredients

  • 1 Large Head of Cauliflower
  • ½ cup of Mayonnaise
  • 1 16 oz package of provolone cheese slices
  • 8 oz container of shredded parmesan cheese
  • 1 10 oz Package of Mozzarella Cheese

Instructions

  • Take the Cauliflower and turn upside down Trim the Core but leave some it on so it will sit on the baking dish or flat pan Trim the leaves off Boil water and Then Place Cauliflower in Boiling water for about 5 to6 minutes. Carefully take out Cauliflower and put on a Prepared Baking sheet lined with Parchment Paper I Spray my Pan with Duck Fat Spray and then put the parchment down. Once the Cauliflower cools a little spread Mayonnaise on top of the Head of Cauliflower to cover it completely then sprinkle Parmesan Cheese Mozzarella cheese and then take the slices about four and cover the head completely.
  • Place in oven at 400 degrees till the top of the cauliflower is light Brown and bubbly from the Cheese. Take out of the oven and then wait a few minutes slice in long slices and serve.

Kathryn’s Fruit Salad

Ingredients

  • 2 Kiwi Sliced
  • 3 Tangerine Peel and taken apart
  • 2 apples Peel and chop in small pieces
  • 20 Red or Black seedless grapes cut in half
  • 1 Banana Sliced
  • 10 Strawberries Sliced
  • 1 pint Raspberries
  • 1 Mango cut into small pieces
  • ½ cup orange juice

Instructions

  • In a medium size bowl assemble all the cut-up fruit toss and add the orange juice to the fruit and toss
  • Refrigerate for at least ½ hour then put in serving dishes and top with Cool Whip

Chefs Kathryn and Father Umberg prepare some of their favorite dishes using Chef Mex Poquitto Mas Flour Totillas. 

Mexican Lasagna

Ingredients

  • 24 oz salsa- homemade Salsa About 3 cups
  • 1 lb ground chicken or turkey
  • 2 Tbsp chili powder
  • 2 tsp ground cumin
  • ¾ onion diced
  • 1 red pepper diced
  • 1 15 oz can black beans drained and rinsed
  • 2 15 oz cans diced tomatoes
  • 1 16 oz jar salsa
  • 1 1/2 cup cheddar cheese shredded
  • 1 pkg 8-inch soft tortillas I used Chef Mex Poquitto Mas Flour Totillas
  • 3 Green onions chopped

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly grease a casserole dish and set aside. – I used Cornhuskers Duck Fat Spray
  • In a large skillet add ground chicken and cook until no longer pink. Add chili powder and cumin.
  • Add diced onions and peppers and sauté for another 3 minutes.
  • Add black beans, diced tomatoes and 3/4 of the jar of salsa to skillet and mix to combine. Simmer for 5 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, cut tortilla in halves or quarters. Spread a small amount of salsa on bottom of casserole dish. Add one layer of cut tortillas and then layer some of the chicken mixture and some cheese. Repeat layers until casserole dish is filled.
  • Top with leftover salsa and cheese. Cover with foil and bake for 15-20 minutes. Remove foil and bake for another 5 minutes until cheese starts to brown and bubble.
  • Top with chopped green onions and your favorite toppings. Delicious!!!!

Ground Beef Enchilada Casserole

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 lbs lean ground beef
  • 1 cup chopped onion
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 to 2 tsp pepper
  • 1 to 2 Tbsp chili powder
  • 1/2 tsp cumin
  • 1 cab of Black ripe olives chopped
  • 1 16 oz of Marinara Sauce
  • 4 oz green chili peppers chopped
  • 6 flour Chef Mex Paquito Mas flour tortillas
  • 8 oz Mexican blend cheese grated, or cheddar jack
  • 1/2 cup water

Instructions

  • In a Large Skillet (I used an Electric Skillet) cook ground beef and onion until beef is browned. Drain well. Stir the salt, pepper, chili powder, cumin, olives, tomato sauce, and chili peppers into the meat mixture. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat. I sprayed the 13×9 dish with Cornhuskers Gourmet Duck Fat Spray. Then alternate layers of lightly buttered tortillas, the meat mixture, and shredded cheese, ending with cheese sprinkled over top. Add water, and cover with lid or foil. Bake for 30 minutes.
  • Garnish with ripe olive slices, chopped green onions, and fresh chopped tomatoes.
  • Serve and enjoy!

Chicken Enchiladas

Ingredients

  • 1 Roasted Chicken from Store Chopped into pices (about half a chicken or two breasts)
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 4 tbsp taco seasoning
  • 1/3 cup chicken stock
  • 8 Med size Chef Mex Flour Tortillas
  • 5 cups cheddar cheese shredded
  • 1 cup scallions green onions, chopped
  • 1 15 oz can green enchilada sauce optional
  • 1 4.5 oz can chopped green chiles
  • Salsa and sour cream

Instructions

  • Sprinkle the Chicken with the Put the Taco seasoning and one third cup of chicken broth into a bowl and add chopped chicken mix chicken into it and then take the Tortilla put into the Tortilla maker and lay it down on ( I used a Quesadilla Electric maker) You can do it your skillet to the tortilla add a handful of cheese, then a pinch of scallions, then about 1/2 cup cooked chicken mixture. Moving quickly, spoon over a couple spoonsful of the cooked sauce and green enchilada sauce Top with another handful of cheese and top with another tortilla in the Electric Tortilla maker wait until the light is off and take it out of the Maker.

Kathryn attended the Lipari trade show in April 2019. There she met Mary Lindeman who introduced her to Pine River products. The following recipes are from Pine River.

Buffalo Chicken Dip

This is an easy dip 
Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time20 mins
Total Time30 mins
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • ½ cup buffalo sauce
  • ¼ cup Pine River Chunky Bleu Flavor Cheese
  • ¼ cup Ranch salad dressing
  • ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 8 oz Cream Cheese
  • 2 cups cooked chicken cut into small pieces

Instructions

  • Heat oven 350 degrees
  • Combine all ingredients and place into 1 Quart baking dish
  • Bake 20 minutes or until mixture is heated through.
  • Serve with crackers, chips or vegetables

Sharp Cheddar Spinach Dip

Ingredients

  • 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese spread
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 1 10 oz pkg frozen chopped spinach (thawed and drained squeezed dry)
  • 1 8 oz can water chestnuts (finely chopped)
  • 2 Tbsp dry minced onion
  • 1 tsp seasoning salt
  • 1 tsp pimento chopped

Instructions

  • In a medium bowl, blend cheese spread and sour cream until smooth. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Chill several hours or overnight. Serve with fresh vegetables or crackers.

Cauliflower Casserole

A simple recipe for a cauliflower side or main dish.

Ingredients

  • 1 head Cauliflower
  • 2 Tbsp Butter
  • 2 Tbsp flour
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • Dash of Pepper
  • 1 cup Milk
  • ½ cup Pine River Pepper Jack Cheese

Instructions

  • Cook whole Cauliflower for 20 to 30 minutes or break up in large flower heads, drain
  • Put into greased casserole. Melt butter, stir in flower salt and pepper. Add milk slowly and cook until thicken, like gravy. Slowly stir in pepper cheese until melted. Pour over the top of the Cauliflower . Can add crushed cornflakes, dried onions or fresh sliced scallions for color and texture to the top. Bake 375 for 25 minutes
  • Serve while hot.

Tuscan Asiago Soup

Ingredients

  • ½ lb bacon
  • 1 lb Italian sausage
  • 2 onions diced
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 8 cups chicken broth
  • 1 tsp pepper
  • 4 large potatoes peeled and sliced thinly
  • 1 cup half and half
  • 1 cup Pine River Asiago cheese spread
  • 4 cups fresh kale or fresh spinach leaves chopped

Instructions

  • Brown bacon and sausage together until nicely browned. Add onion until translucent about two minutes, then add minced garlic. Stir in the chicken broth, pepper and sliced potatoes, bringing to boil. Cook until potatoes are soft, 10 to 15 minute. Gently add half and half, fold in Asiago cheese until melted. Stir in the kale or spinach cook until wilted. Serve in soup bowls.

On this show, Father Umberg and I cook in memory of our dear friend, Mari Lou Ollier. The lasagna recipe is her’s.

Lasagna

Author: Kathryn Raaker

Ingredients

  • 1 lb sweet or hot Italian sausage
  • 1/2 lb ground beef (80/20)
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped onion
  • 2 cloves garlic crushed
  • 2 Tbsp sugar
  • 1 Tbsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp dried basil
  • 15 oz container ricotta or cottage cheese
  • 3/4 lb mozzarella cheese sliced
  • 1/2 tsp fennel seed
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1/4 cup chopped parsley
  • 4 cups canned tomatoes undrained
  • 1 Tbsp salt
  • 2 6 oz cans tomato paste
  • 12 oz box lasagna noodles
  • 1 egg
  • 3/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

Instructions

  • Saute onion, garlic and meat in pan, stirring frequently until browned. Add sugar, 1 tablespoon salt, basil, fennel, pepper, and half of parsley; mix well.
  • Add tomatoes, tomato paste, and ½ cup water mashing tomatoes with a wooden spoon. Bring to boiling; reduce heat; simmer, covered and stirring occasionally, until thick 1 ½ hours. In a kettle bring 3 quarts of water and l tablespoon salt to boiling. Add lasagna, 2 or 3 at a time. Return to boiling, boil uncovered and stirring occasionally about 10 minutes. Drain in a colander. Preheat oven to 3750. In a medium bowl, combine ricotta, egg, remaining parsley, and salt; mix well. In the bottom of 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking dish, spoon 1 ½ cups sauce. Layer with 6 lasagna noodles, lengthwise and overlapping, to cover. Spread with half of the ricotta mixture, top with a third of mozzarella. Spoon I ½ sauce over cheese; sprinkle with ¼ Parmesan. Repeat layering, starting with 6 lasagna noodles and ending with 1 1/2 cups sauce sprinkled with parmesan. Spread with remaining sauce; top with rest of mozzarella and parmesan. Cover with foil, tucking around the edge. Bake 25 minutes· remove foil· bake uncovered 25 minutes longer, or until bubbly. Cool 15 minutes before serving.

Fr Umberg’s Orange Glazed Arugula Salad

Course: Main Dish, Side Dish

Ingredients

  • 1 Medium Navel Orange
  • 1/4 cup Olive Oil
  • 1/4 cup Balsamic Vinegar
  • 2 Tbsp Sugar
  • Pinch of Salt
  • 15 oz box Baby Arugula
  • 1/4 cup pecans
  • 2 Tbsp (1/8 cup) craisins

Instructions

  • In a small skillet pour the olive oil and heat up till hot then add your orange zest
  • Spread the zest around the skillet let boil for a few seconds and turn off heat add sugar, salt, and Balsamic Vinegar. Let it cool to room temperature then add the pecans and craisins. Put the Arugula in a bowl add dressing mix well and serve or refrigerate for 30 min.

Kathryn Raaker and Karen Schaefer cook some delicious down-on-the-farm specialties at the “Schaefer Indiana Farm and Bed & Breakfast” in Sunman, IN. Karen grows her own vegetables and berries and shares her insights into healthy cooking, cooking with venison, and cooking with and caring for cast iron.

For more information about the Schaefer Indiana Farm and Bed & Breakfast, visit their website at: schaefersindianafarmbb.com or call, 812.623.3292.